Screenwriter Peter Iliff (Patriot Games, Point Break) has been tasked to write theatrical version of American Gladiators, based on the TV show that's been around since 1988. Scott Mednick is producing while "American Gladiators" creator Johnny Ferraro is exec producing.
Plot Concept: The story, which will feature the Herculean characters as superheroes, will be based on the TV show that first aired in 1988 and has been broadcast in more than 90 countries, with the format adapted for the local market in 14 of them. Most recently, NBC aired a primetime revival of the show in 2008.
American Gladiators is scheduled to hit theaters sometime in 2011.
The trade also says Peter Iliff recently wrote the screenplay to Point Break 2, a follow-up to his 1991 story. Sound off below.
Just when you thought the movie industry was out of clever, original ideas they prove everybody wrong with....oh no wait, this movie is going to blow. It looks like anything can be made into a movie. Don't get me wrong I loved this show when it was on tv but turning them into 'heroes' and making a film out of it is the worst idea in the long, sad history of bad ideas.
I am so laid back when it comes to movies that look bad, remakes, endless sequels etc. But even I have to say W-T-F?!
As if it wasn't bad enough to turn the Battleship game into a movie, now it's American Gladiators. I think they're taking this Transformers and G.I. Joe success thing too far. I mean, what's Battleship going to be like?
"A-12!"
"MISS!!"
"B-7!"
"Ahh, you sunk my battleship!!!"
Credits role.
A movie? On American Gladiators? WTF was Hollywood smoking when they thought this would be a great idea?
I enjoyed the tv show as a young kid. But it's hardly anything worth basing a movie off of.
With crap like this coming out, I'm sure Deal or No Deal, or Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? are next in line for theatrical releases. YAY!......not
This idea has numerous problems. First, turning normal people into superheros is challenging at a time when the filmmaking public has embraced well thought-out fictional characters. Second, the premise inherently admits that it doesn't take its own subject matter seriously (e.g. if the actual show characters were interesting, you wouldn't need to turn them into super heroes).
The general notion of making a movie from American Gladiators could work if it were more like a cross between Pirates of Silicon Valley and the Wrestler (without the excessive tragedy). They could dissect the formation of the show and the competitions, look at how some of these athletes found their way through the show, and acknowledge the challenges of trying to reboot something that was as hot as that show used to be.
Krath... while I get your point, I have to disagree with you. Hasbro/Milton Bradley is seemingly trying something rather bold. By putting their board games in movie format, they're evolving these old games into timeless *experiences*. Even if the Battleship movie only generates a minimal profit, it still offers a core storyline (lacking in the original source) in which future versions of the game can be grounded. As Hasbro/MB is likely looking to put these games in a virtual/augmented reality format, this all makes sense. In fact, now would be a fascinating time to work for a company like Hasbro.
I find it kind of odd that several times, I have said that Mike O'Hearn from the 2008 American Gladiators should have been offered a role in a big hollywood movie (Superman Returns and Flash Gordon) and now, coincidently, someone is writing a script for an American Gladiator movie. Weird.
Oh, and by the way, I agree.. WTF??
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Wow this could be great....as a Saturday morning cartoon series.
Silly. Lame.
Next!